Facturing corp



A i A ,2, 1929. F. o. KRIEGER APPARATUS FOR REFINING USED OIL Filed 00t- 1927 2 Sheets-Sheet A TTORNE Ys April 1929. F. o. KRIEGER ,6 3

APPARATUS FOR REFINING USED OIL Filed Oct. 24, 1927 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 fflf ' IF- l ll Il \i:

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Patented Apr. 2, 1929.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

FRANKLIN O. KRIEGER, OF KANSAS CITY, MISSOURI, ASSIGNOR TO REFINOIL MANU- FACTURING CORP., OF KANSAS CITY, MISSOURI, A CORPORATION OF MISSOURI.

APPARATUS F01 REFINING USED OIL.

Application filed October 24, 1927. Serial No. 228,278.

This invention relates to used oil refining apparatus, and has for its primary object the production of a simply constructed machine for refining used oils although it may be used with other oils that is readily transportable and may be installed and operated by relatively unskilled labor in garages and the like. Machines of this character have long been desired as the full, or better lubricating value of oil drained from the crank case of an automobile and the like, may be readily returned by proper treatment.

It will be evident t iat a machine to be used in a garage or the like must possess certain features of simplicity, convenience, ease of operation, and have non-dangerous qualities, that a machine constructed for use by technically trained men Would not necessitate. It was to meet this condition that the machine of the invention was designed. One of the objects, therefore, is to produce a retort of such proportions and design and having a heating element so located that it will efficiently refine used oil without danger of cracking or burning the oil.

Therefore, another object of the invention is to produce refining apparatus so arranged and interconnected that the still or retort may be filled. from an acid treating tank by a vacuous condition produced in said still; the vacuum producing means also being utilized to effect condensation of Vapors produced in the retort.

A further object comprises the production of suitable contact apparatus between an active reagent and hot oil as will hereinafter appear by means of which the reaction may be readily and easily held within reasonable limits.

A still further object comprises the production of a strong, durable, efiicient and comparatively inexpensive machine of the character described; and in order that it may be fully understood, reference is to be had to the accompanying drawings, in which:

li igure 1 is a side elevation of an oil reclamation device made in accordance with this invention, showing parts in section and having parts broken away for clearness.

Figure 2 is a side view of the same.

Figure 8 is a detailed section taken on line Hlll'l of Figure 1.

Figure 4 is an enlarged cross section of the heating element taken on line IV-IV of Figure 1.

Figure 5 is a vertical central section through the vacuum producing device.

Figure 6 is a cross section through the condensingmedium chamber taken on. line Vl-VI of Figure 1.

While various modifications in specific structures may be made in the practice of the invention, the preferred embodiment is shown in the drawings wherein the numeral 1 designates any ordinary frame which may be built up of angle iron or other suitable material strong enough to support the various parts of the mechanism. which contains any suitable heating element 8, the preferred construction comprising a resistance coil wound upon a non-expansible core having a spacer collar t at each end thereof and in the middle adapted to main tain the resistance wire in spaced relation to the walls of the closed iron or other suitable metal cylinder 5, which houses the heating element 3. As illustrated in Figure 1, the cylinder 5 is suspended within retort 2 at a point slightly above the bottom in order that it may lie above the surface of water, if any be present, collecting in the retort after the same has been filled with crank case or other used oil to be refined and also to readily set up convection currents for the quick heating of the entire body of oil. The wires 6 supply the necessary electrical energy to heat the resistance coil. In order-to provide a clean out opening, the end of pipe 5 is threaded or otherwise secured in a collar 7 permanently secured in position, said pipe being provided with a flange 5 whereby it may be unscrewed and withdrawn from the still. The end of pipe 5 beyond the flange is closed by aremovable cap 8 making it possible to withdraw the heating unit without 9 disturbing pipe or tube 5. A closed end tube 9 should also be provided to project into retort 2 to accou'm'iodate a thernumiieter 10, used to determine the temperature during the operation of the still. It is also desirable to use a gage 11 with retort 2 to determine the oil level. In the instance shown, running water is used as the cooling medium, and a twofold purpose is fulfilled by causing the running water to create a vacuum in both retort 2 and a combined distillate and vacuum tank 12,positioned below and to one side of retort 2 as shown in Figures 1 and 2. A pipe 13 joins retort 2 and tank 1-2, which may have a pressure gage 1st and 2 is a retort a blow otil valve 15 interposed therein, prcterably adjacent the retort 2. Pipe 13 enters the top of tank 12, and has a jacket 16 surrounding the same for a portion of its length, which forms a condensing medium chamber through which passes the cooling medium. An inlet pipe 17 leads from thesource of water supply to the upper part of coolingmedium chamber formed between pipe 13 and its surrounding acket 16, and a conduit 18 equal in size to pipe 17 receives the water from the lower end of cooling-medium chamber and carries it to the vacuum pro ducing pump 19 shown in detail in Figure 5. As the water passes through cooling-medium chamber and pump 19, is torced out through a nozzle 19 through pipe 20 and in. so passing draws the air out of annular chamber 21 formed within pump 19 and which is connected 'ith tube 23 leading from pump 19 to tank 2, and since tank 12 and retort 2 are both tightly sealed, be ing connected only by pipe 13, it is obvious that the drawing of air therefrom through tube 23 by pump 19 will create a vacuum therein.

Communicating with the retort 2 is a pipe 24!; provided externally of the retort with a 'l'coupling 25 with which a supply pipe 26 and a discharge pipe 2'? communicate, said pipes 26 and 2': being respectively controlled by hand valves 28 and 29. The supply pipe 26 has a connection 30 leading to any suitable source oi crank case or used oil to be refined and when the water is turned on to pass through the coolingmedium chamber to set up a vacuum in the retort, the valve 28 being open and valve 29 closed, the oil to be reclaimed is sucked into retort 2 through pipe 26 and connection 30. As soon as the gage 11 indicates that retort 2 is about 80% full, or it the gage is not employed as soon as the supply source is sui'liciently emptied, the valve 28 controlling pipe 26 is closed and heat is applied to the oil within retort 2 through the heating element 8. Due to the fact that a vacuum has been set up in retort 2, the boiling point of water has been lowered and effective work may be carried on if the heat is turned oil at approximately 4100 -500 ll. As shown in Figure 1, retort 2 is heavily insulated, and j the throwing oil of vapors through pipe 1 3 will. continue until the oil is in the propercondition. As the vapors pass oil through pipe J3 they are condensed by the cooling medium passing through the cording-niediuin chamber and fall into dilution tank 12 from where they may be drawn oil through a valve 31. In the event noncon densible vapors pass from retort 2 through pipe 1?) and into tank 12, they will be drawn out through tube 23 and pump 19 to be expelled through pipe 20.

After the oil to be reclaimed has remained in retort 2 about tour hours, all dilution meters previously contained therein will have been removed and the hot oil may be drawn oil into the clarifying tank 32 positioned below retort by opening the valve 29. The tank 32 is preferably double walled to provide an air space or other insulation, around its sides and bottom which will perform the function of retaining the heat within the oil an unusually long time. The pipe 27 is connected by a union to a vertical discharge pipe 3 terminating shortot the bottom of tank 32 and carrying a perforated plate 35 spaced slightly from the tank bottom and being adapted to carry a suitable clarifying medium 36 so that the oil must contact therewith as it fills the clarifying tank. The reservoir 82 is preferably pivotally mounted as at 37 to the frame 1, and has a handle 38 which may be used to manually tilt the reervoir when it is desired to pour oil from a spent 39. it is to be understood that the clarifying reagent is active and that the operator must regulate the flow of oil past valve 29 to maintain the reaction within reasonable limits, and that the combination just described is peculiarly adapted for use by relatively unskilled and non-technical operators. "he spout 39 is preferably constructed or a metal. which is light in color and relatively non-tarnishable whereby the operator when he decants the supernatant refined oil in a shallow stream over the spout may immediately detect the passage of particles of the residue or sludge, and take steps to prevent such material from passing over with the oil.

Since the device contemplated by this in vention may be used in many different ways and oils of different types reclaimed in many dil'l'erent manners, more specific details as to the exact process are not deemed advisable. And, since it is believed the novel features of the device itseli are extremely valuablein the art, what is claimed as new and is desired to be secured by Letters Patent is:

I claim:

1. in a device of the character described for refining used lubricating oil, a still, a receiver, a pipe joining said still and receiver, a condensing medium chamber surrounding said pipe, liquid actuated means for maintaining a vacuum in said receiver, and a conduit connecting said condensing medium chamber and said vacuum maintaining means.

2. in a device of the character described, a still, a receiver, a heating element housed within said still, a pipe joining said still and receiver, a condensing medium chamber surrounding said pipe, a. vacuum producing pump for maintaining a vacuum in said receivcr and a conduit connecting said pump and condensing medium chamber whereby the condensing medium passing through the chamber also operates said vacuum producing pump. i

3. In a device of the character described for refining used lubricating oil, a still, a receiver, a pipe joining said still and receiver, a condensing medium chamber surrounding said pipe, conduits providing medium in gress and egress to and from said chamber respectively, a vacuum producing pump interposed in. said conduit operative by the passage of condensing medium through said chamber and a tube joining said pump and the receiver.

4. In a portable device for refining used lubricating oil, a still, a receiver, a heating element housed within said still, a pipe joining said still and receiver, a condensing medium chamber surrounding said pipe, and a ump for creating a vacuum in both receiver and still, said pump being operated by the condensing medium after its passage through the condensing chamber.

5. In a portable device for refining used lubricating oil, a still, a receiver, a pipe joining said still and receiver, a heating element housed within said still, a cooling medium chamber surrounding said pipe, liquid actuated means for creating a vacuum in both re ceiver and still operative by the cooling medium after it passes through the cooling chamber, and a clarifying reservoir mounts beneath said still, and a pipe connecting said still to said reservoir.

6. In a portable device for refining used lubricating oil, a still, a heating element housed therein, means for drawing ofi? and condensing the vapors from the said still, a clarifying reservoir, a pipe connecting said still and reservoir, and a clarifying substance supporting plate positioned in spaced relation to the bottom of said reservoir, said pipe being adapted to convey oil from the still to the space between said supporting plate and reservoir bottom.

7. In a portable device for refining used lubricating oil, a still, a heating element housed therein, a condensing medium passage, and means for drawing vapor from said still through a pipe passing through said passage, said drawing means being interposed in said passage and operated by the medium as it passes theret-hrough.

8. In a portable device for refining used lubricating oil, a still, a receiver, a supply pipe entering said still, a pipe joining said still and receiver, a condensing chamber around said pipe, and liquid actuated means which creates a vacuum in said still and receiver and draws oil through said supply pipe, said liquid medium being used to condense vapors passing through said joining pipe.

In testimony whereof I aflix my signature,

FRANKLIN O. KRIEGER. 

